Discovery BoxEcclesiastes 3:14 
Context3:14 I also know that whatever God does will endure forever;
nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it.
God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.
Ecclesiastes 4:16
Context4:16 There is no end to all the people 1 nor to the past generations, 2
yet future generations 3 will not rejoice in him.
This also is profitless and like 4 chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Context5:19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions,
he has also given him the ability 5
to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil;
these things 6 are the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 6:10
Context6:10 Whatever has happened was foreordained, 7
and what happens to a person 8 was also foreknown.
It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate
because God is more powerful than he is. 9
Ecclesiastes 8:12
Context8:12 Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes 10 and still live a long time, 11
yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people 12 – for they stand in fear 13 before him.
1 tn Heb “the people.” The term עַם (’am, “people”) can refer to the subjects of the king (BDB 766 s.v. עַם 2).
2 tn Heb “those who were before them.”
3 tn Heb “those coming after.” The Hebrew term הָאַחֲרוֹנִים (ha’akharonim, “those coming after”) is derived from the preposition אַחַר (’akhar, “behind”). When used in reference to time, it refers to future generations (e.g., Deut 29:21; Pss 48:14; 78:4, 6; 102:19; Job 18:20; Eccl 1:11; 4:16); cf. HALOT 36 s.v. אַחַר B.3; BDB 30 s.v. אַחַר 2.b).
4 tn The word “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
5 tn The syntax of this verse is difficult. The best approach is to view הִשְׁלִיטוֹ (hishlito, “he has given him the ability”) as governing the three following infinitives: לֶאֱכֹל (le’ekhol, “to eat”), וְלָשֵׂאת (vÿlase’t, “and to lift” = “to accept [or receive]”), and וְלִשְׂמֹחַ (vÿlismoakh, “and to rejoice”). This statement parallels 2:24-26 which states that no one can find enjoyment in life unless God gives him the ability to do so.
6 tn Heb “this.” The feminine singular demonstrative pronoun זֹה (zoh, “this”) refers back to all that preceded it in the verse (e.g., GKC 440-41 §135.p), that is, the ability to enjoy the fruit of one’s labor is the gift of God (e.g., Eccl 2:24-26). The phrase “these things” is used in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “already its name was called.”
8 tn Or “and what a person (Heb “man”) is was foreknown.”
9 tn Heb “he cannot contend with the one who is more powerful than him.” The referent of the “the one who is more powerful than he is” (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The words “with God about his fate” have been added for clarity as well.
10 tn Heb “does evil one hundred [times].”
11 tn Heb “and prolongs his [life].”
12 tn Heb “those who fear God.”
13 tn Heb “they fear.”
